The drivers are going round the track. Just six drivers are starting on the hard tyre and one of them is Lando Norris. Can he really do a one-stop? The front runners are all on mediums as expected.

We're just minutes away from the start in Baku. The F2 feature race earlier today saw a huge crash involving three cars at the start. Hopefully we don't get those scenes but we would love to see a bit of chaos and plenty of entertainment.

It's been slim pickings when it's come to celebs on the track so far. I understand Will Smith is in attendance but the other famous face we've spotted is model Naomi Campbell.

Think she was hoping those shades would make it tough to pick her out.

The youngster is in this weekend due to Kevin Magnussen's suspension and he's starting in the top 10 after a good performance in qualifying for Haas.

Oliver Bearman, Sky Sports:

A clean start, a clean first lap and hoefully we'll have a good one. The race pace will be good. Im excited for the race.

Finishing touches are being made to the preparations ahead of the race this afternoon. The drivers are about to line-up for the national anthem and then we'll have the formation lap and then, of course, the main event.

The Mexican driver loves this track. He has more podiums at Baku than Verstappen and Hamilton combined. Perez broke a long overdue streak against his team-mate on Saturday by out qualifying him for the first time in 33 races.

He may need to support Verstappen from the front today but ahead of the race, team principal Horner praised his amazing resume in Azerbaijan.

Christian Horner, Sky Sports:

It makes no logical sense in that it is high-speed straights with barriers, 90-degree corners, but he has always been magic around here. If he had a 24-race championship in Azerbaijan he would be pretty tough to beat. It is important to carry that momentum into the race.

Red Bull's change in fortunes has been remarkable. Yet, despite the drop off, they remain leaders in both championships with just eight races to go.

But Verstappen knows all too well the way this is going. McLaren are breathing down their necks in the Constructors, while Norris is plotting an unlikely swoop for his title.

The Dutchman lamented the team's poor set-up in qualifying which contributed to him coming in sixth - behind Perez!

Max Verstappen:

From the first lap that I did in qualifying I was not happy with the car, and I just tried to drive around it. When you’re not confident and comfortable with the car on a street circuit, you cannot push to the limit and I think basically that’s what happened.

As soon as it matters, people start risking more. I just didn’t feel comfortable to attack because the car was just very difficult, jumping a lot, losing contact patch with the tarmac, so not very nice. Of course, I went off in the last corner which also didn’t help, so all in all quite disappointing

The drivers are getting in a few laps around the Baku City Circuit ahead of lights out in just over 30 minutes. Most of the front runners will be looking to start on a medium tryre and then switch to a long for the final stint.

Two of the three strategies released by tyre manufacturer Pirelli are one-stops so we're likely to see most team adopt this plan. Unless of course they're looking to shake things up like Norris.

The seven-time world champion qualified for the race in seventh but after taking his fifth engine of the season, more than his allowance, he'll start from the pit lane.

The same goes for Apline's Esteban Ocon after the team made changes to his car during parc ferme.

The shades are out at a warm and sunny Baku this morning. The weather conditions for the race as dry and warm with a low chance of rain and moderate winds. That points to a rather pedestrian race when you consider the nature of a tight street track.

But as I said earlier, this track has a habit of upsetting the pole sitter so anything can happen here.

Leclerc fans are all too familiar with his failure to convert pole positions into wins at the best of times, nevermind on a track that has a history of upsetting the leader. Only two drivers have managed to convert pole position into a win in Baku. Nico Rosberg and Valterri Bottas.

Norris is 69 points behind Verstappen in the Driver's Championship and this was supposed to be a week when we get to see McLaren's new team orders system in full swing.

As its turning out, a poor qualifying performance has left the Brit well down the order. Although, he remains hopeful, despite the reality of the tight Baku track.

Lando Norris:

Everything is going to have to be done with strategy because you can’t overtake. There are a plenty of cars at the back who have taken the wing off and hope for the best.

That makes it impossible for a lot of cars to overtake them.The car is quick and we hope that will come into our hands and at some point I can get clean air. But on a street circuit everything gets backed up and you kind of get forced into a position and you can’t do a lot at times.

Charles Leclerc kept up his stunning qualifying form in Baku by securing his fourth pole poisiton on the bounce at the track. Meanwhile, Red Bull's woes continued, well Verstappen in particular. And maybe woes is too strong of a word given their position.

Still, Max qualified in sixth, behind his team-mate Sergio Perez, who famously loves this track. Oscar Piastri will be on the front alongside Leclerc, while Sainz qualified third.

Where's Lando I hear you ask? All the way down in 17th is the answer. We'll have more on that in a second.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport's coverage of the Azerbaijan GP this afternoon from the Baku City Circuit. Yesterday's qualifying brought with it some surprises, chiefly, the performance of Lando Norris, who really needs to make ground on Max Verstappen if he's to win the Driver's title.

The race gets underway at 12pm but before that we'll be bringing you all the news and updates.